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Kenya marathon Gold caps Beijing Olympics

  1. Posted on Monday 25 August 2008 - 12:40
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    Marathon Gold caps Olympics for Kenya
    Ali Balunywa, AfricaNews reporter in Haarlem, The Netherlands
    International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge presented Kenya’s Samuel Kamau Wanjiru (21) with a gold medal for winning the men’s marathon race that brought the curtain down on a highly successful Beijing Olympic Games. This was at the main Beijing Olympics Stadium where the Kenyan anthem was played after the presentation.
    All the marathon medals were taken by Africa. Jaouad Gharib of Morocco took the silver while Tsegay Kebede of Ethiopia won the bronze in the 42 kilometre marathon.
    "In Kenya, we have many medals, but I'm glad to have this one, too," the Japan-based Wanjiru said. "It feels good to make history here."
    The win was also Kenya’s first in the marathon at the four-yearly Olympics. Wanjiru’s winning time of two hours, six minutes and 32 seconds was an Olympic record and also marked the fifth Kenyan gold medal at the Beijing Games that were the country’s most successful ever. The country’s first gold medals by women at the Games were won by 19-year-old Pamela Jelimo in the 800 metres and 27-year-old Nancy Jebet Lagat in the 1,500 metres.
    Kenya’s other medals were won by: Gold – Wilfred Bungei (800m), Nancy Jebet Langat (1,500m), Brimin Kipruto (3,000m steeplechase), Pamela Jelimo (800m); silver – Catherine Ndereba (marathon), Eunice Jepkorir (3,000m steeplechase), Janeth Jepkosgei (800m), Asbel Kiprop (1,500m), Eliud Kipchoge (5,000m) and bronze – Richard Matelong (3,000m steeplechase), Edwin Soi (5,000m), Alfred Kirwa Yego (800m) and Micah Kogo (10,000m).
    Kenya finished the competition as the top African nation and an impressive 15th overall with 14 medals - five gold, five silver and four bronze.
    The performance surpassed the previous best of nine medals (five gold, two silver and two bronze) achieved at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and was also highlighted by the country’s

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